Dale Cresap's blog

There is a hunger in the human heart for the unconditional acceptance of love. Those who don’t experience this will settle for conditional acceptance as a substitute. Conditional acceptance is based on performance. If you consistently do something that others value and appreciate, they will accept you on that basis as long as you keep doing it. You understand that I want you to behave a certain way. Yet my love for and acceptance of you is not contingent on your performance. This can be understood in terms of cause and effect. Your performance does not obtain my love. My love enables you to obey me. 

The Psalmist desired to behold the beauty of the Lord. Is this something you desire as well, or are you uncomfortable with the concept? You live in a culture with a false sense of beauty, based on unattainable images and associated with sensual lust. Yet this is only the counterfeit of the true beauty that I possess and impart a measure of to each of my children. Fixation on the superficial beauty will interfere with your ability to see true beauty just as fixation on the wealth of this world will hinder your ability to seek true wealth. I want you to delight to see my beauty and the beauty of my presence in your brothers and sisters. 

Do you take the Great Commission seriously, to preach the gospel to every creature? This is to populate heaven with redeemed souls. Are you serious about supporting the work of the gospel financially? This is also commendable, but you can’t buy souls. However you can support those who work in the field of harvest. When you give into ministry, what do you expect the money to be used for? Does it seem mundane for those who receive it to spend it on food and clothing and transportation? Yet what else should it be spent for? There is no higher purpose for the money given to my work. 

Are you diligent to avoid boredom? Some people see this as an intolerable condition, and seek incessantly for external stimulation. Now you have portable communication devices to fill this need. Yet my people need never be bored, for my Kingdom is within them. I am present within them and give them an inner life which is always available, a place of revelation and abiding communion. This is a permanent cure for boredom, but you must seek and cultivate it. Do you understand that the distractions and cares of this world can interfere with this inner spiritual life? Are you as concerned about neglecting your life in me as you are with avoiding boredom?

Do you see sinners as being inherently evil or as victims of the evil one who has taken them captive? Both points of view can be argued, but you are not to approach this as a disinterested dispassionate observer. I came to redeem the lost. I gave you the Great Commission that you may be an agent in reaching the lost with my message. Which of the views above is more consistent with effective efforts in this task? Are you going to put much effort into reaching those who would get what they deserved? Yet if you take part in the rescue of a hostage you are a hero. Come and join me in my work of setting the captives free.

Have you ever seen a show-off? They have something that you don’t have, in the form of skills or knowledge or even material possessions they want to put on visible display to elevate themselves above you. Who would be better positioned to be a show-off than me? For I could heal the sick and raise the dead. I commanded the forces of nature and fed multitudes from one small lunch. Yet I did not do these things to show off. I did not do them to separate myself from those who observed, but to provide an example for them to follow. I expected my followers to feed multitudes themselves after I showed them how. I was delighted when they followed me, and I am delighted when you do too.

Have you ever encountered people who were desperately in need of guidance and direction who would not be quiet long enough to receive it? I promise wisdom for those who ask, and that those who seek and ask and knock will find and receive and have the door open for them. Does this seem like such a simple thing that it is a promise too good to be true? Such a minor condition for receiving so much. Yet you would be amazed at how many will not meet that condition. There is some humility involved in recognizing that the solution you need is not within you. This is a small price to pay for receiving divine wisdom. 

Does it seem to you that workers criticizing the boss behind his back is a normal and expected practice? Do you find Biblical guidance on this matter? Passages regarding servants can be considered directly applicable to employees, and the Bible does not condone murmuring or rebellion in any form. Such practices work against you. To undermine the authority of one in authority over you can only be demoralizing to you and all who listen to you. If you are in an intolerable situation you are free to move on and find another manager worthy of your allegiance. Until then you can take comfort in knowing I am in authority over those in authority over you.

I have posted these messages for years without much reference to myself. Reading a blog posting from a friend made me realize that I should issue a disclaimer. I hope that you don’t get the impression that my life is a living expression of these words I hear from Jesus. I wish it were but in reality I am in tension between the righteousness I affirm and the reality of my life which includes weakness, selfishness, thoughtlessness, lust, and greed. I can identify with Paul when he says the good that I would I do not and the evil I would not I do. Through this I trust in Jesus who is in the process of delivering me and completing the good work he has begun in me.

from a friend

I have a colleague (Teresa) who has been battling with cancer for some years now. At her last doctor’s visit on Thursday last week, she was told that the cancer has spread to her liver and vertebrae. She acknowledges Jesus as her healer and is asking for prayer. Can you please send out a prayer request to your mailing group for Teresa’s request?

Do you map out responses, planning in advance for every situation you may encounter? Don’t let this become a burden to you. You can’t imagine everything that could happen, and most of the things you can imagine will not happen. Don’t miss out on the fullness and richness of life now by engaging in this form of worry. If you do not believe that tomorrow will take care of the things of tomorrow then at least believe that I am in control of tomorrow and today. I call you to a walk of continuous trust in me. If you do this you will have a peace unknown to those who fend for themselves by controlling all they can. If the evil of today is sufficient for it, then so are the mercy, grace, and blessing, knowing that there will be an equally abundant supply tomorrow. 

Have you ever heard someone exhorted to ‘rise above it’ when they are faced with a petty insult? This means to take a noble minded view and let it go without responding in kind to the provocation. This is good advice and for my people it is no mere figure of speech. For I exhort you to seek those things above where I sit on the right hand of the Father. I have provided a real refuge for you in which you can weather the trials and tribulations of this world. I provide a way of escape that you may endure, sustaining you in the secret place of my presence where your enemies cannot follow. Here you can rise above much more than petty insults.